National Library News June 1999 Vol. 31, no. 6

Read Up on It

The Canadian Literature Research Service program Read Up on It is now in its 11th year.

The kit promotes Canadian books for children according to a selected theme. In 1999, the focus is on humour and the choice of the books proposed reflects the presence of humour in children's literature for different age groups.

The following are the general selection criteria:

• Canadian books (authors or illustrators) and books published abroad whose content is Canadian
• respect for the selected theme
• books still available from publishers or distributors
• quality of the text and the illustration and of the text as compared to the illustration
• books in both official languages, taking geographic distribution into account
• prize-winning books, which received awards during the year
• respect for ethnic and linguistic community values

The selected books must ¾ either through illustrations or text ¾ highlight various examples of humour while keeping respect for others in mind. To illustrate this year’s theme, 25 English-language and 25 French-language examples of Canadian works produced in the past three years will be chosen and annotated by professionals for the quality of their writing and illustrations.

This is one way in which the National Library of Canada highlights our rich literary heritage. Intended for use by teachers and parents, the Read Up on It kit reveals new approaches to foster discussions about Canadian children's literature in the classroom, the library or at home. A "Message for teachers, librarians and parents" provides numerous ways for adults to encourage reading and writing or even break through the barriers of illiteracy. A list of publishers, whose books are included in the kit, is provided, and Read Up On It is mounted on the National Library’s Web site.

Finally, the loyalty and support of the partners and collaborators in the Read Up on It kit contribute to the important presence of this National Library of Canada program in the Canadian community. Through it, national library associations (the Canadian Library Association and the Association pour l’avancement des sciences et des techniques de la documentation), the Canada Post Corporation, the Canadian Federation of University Women, the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Communication-Jeunesse, Access Network, YTV, Télé-Québec, and, of course, our primary collaborator, the National Literacy Secretariat, help children to learn to love books, to discover Canadian authors and illustrators, and lastly, to enjoy reading all their lives. In addition, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) has joined the partnership this year to provide a list of books in alternative format.

After more than a decade, the program is more topical than ever, whether as a tool to promote children's literature, a literacy resource, or as a vehicle of works for children with visual impairments. Read Up on It represents the vitality of Canadian literary production for children and young adults.